Project: A Non-Invasive Expert System for Diagnosis of Intraocular Tumours
The overall aim of the project is to create and introduce to the market a new expert system for analysis and diagnosis of intraocular tumours. It will consist of a new non-invasive ultrasonic tissue characterisation device (which will be developed and prototypes produced in the course of this project) to the conventional ultrasound diagnostic system for acquisition of ultrasound RF signals, sophisticated software for ultrasonic data analysis, and the innovative digital ophthalmoscope for acquiring images of intraocular tumours. The ultrasonic tissue characterisation device – an option to the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic systems for advanced data acquisition, processing and analysis system with automatic decision feature (further referred to as "Device RF") will fulfil the market demand, because it will respond to the clinical needs for a reliable method of intraocular tumours diagnostics. It will be compatible with the majority of commercially available diagnostic systems and will fit the advanced requirements of the end-users at a competitive price._x000D__x000D_The clinical reasoning behind the project is that differential diagnosis of human eye tumours is one of the most important problems in ophthalmology in dealing with cancer prevention and diagnostics. Malignant eye tumours make 0.2 per cent of all malignant tumours diagnosed, but it is a direct reason of death for each third patient. In ophthalmological practice and treatment, intraocular tumour differentiation is one of determinant factors for management and outcomes of a disease. Recently, the CO method for differentiation of intraocular tumours globally has been the use of invasive methods (e.g. fine needle biopsy) and like all invasive methods, it has had it's limitations. Therefore, offering an early non-invasive diagnosis and characterization of tumour's tissue is crucial for proper treatment prognosis of the tumours and death prevention._x000D__x000D_The most common current method for eye tumour diagnosis is ophthalmoscopy - optical subjective evaluation of the eye fundus. Ophthalmoscopy is an obligatory method in ophthalmological examination. It is sufficient to diagnose an intraocular tumour but insufficient for differential diagnosis and evaluation of its structure._x000D__x000D_Complex optical and ultrasound- based investigations are the leading noninvasive methods for intraocular tumours diagnosis, differentiation, tumour geometrical and structural parameters evaluation. There are several indicators used for ultrasonic diagnosis of intraocular tumours in vivo: geometry, size, shape and structure are frequently used in clinical practice. Non-invasiveness, high resolution, and informativeness make ultrasound investigation one of the most effective and efficient diagnostic method in ophthalmology. A-scan (one-dimensional detected signal), B-scan (two-dimensional image), 3D and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) technique are used for tumour characterization. However, ultrasound radiofrequency (RF) signal provides more information in comparison with the detected signal or images. Thus, the way to increase resolution of commercially available ultrasound imaging systems and characterization of biological tissues is acquisition and processing of ultrasound RF signals. However, RF signals acquisition is not available in the equipment currently available on the market worldwide . This makes a gap between the demand and availability and creates a market opportunity._x000D__x000D_The ultrasonic diagnostic system that will be developed in the course of this project could be implemented into other clinical areas (such as oncology). The developed product will be offered for end-users (doctors) and beneficiaries (patients/the society) and is going to be a high value-adding system enabling faster and better-informed diagnostic decisions of potentially terminal diseases at a reasonable cost. As the result, quality of diagnostics and treatment will be improved essentially and probability the patient mortality related to malignant eye tumours will be reduced._x000D__x000D_The project will be implemented by a consortium that will include clinical, technological and market expertise and will consist of Stratelus, a telemedicine development and services company, Optomed, Biomedical Engineering Institute of the Kaunas University of Technology, Ultrasound Institute of the Kaunas University of Technology and Department of Electrical and Information Technology of Lund University.
| Acronym | NICDIT (Reference Number: 4297) |
| Duration | 01/09/2008 - 01/03/2011 |
| Project Topic | Development of non-invasive system for intraocular tumour diagnosis, its tissue characterization and parameterization which will consist of the innovative device-attachment, conventional non-invasive ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, innovative digital ophthalmoscope and sophisticated software. |
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Project Results (after finalisation) |
Optomed Smartscope (digital ophthalmoscope) was developed and customized according to specifications made in co-operation with Kaunas University and Stratelus. According to pilot testings, optical imaging system reached the targets and Optomed technology can be used as a part of commercial system in future. |
| Network | Eurostars |
| Call | Eurostars Cut-Off 1 |
Project partner
| Number | Name | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Biomedical Engineering Institute of Kaunas University of Technology | Partner | Lithuania |
| 5 | Lund university Department of Electrical and Information Technology | Partner | Sweden |
| 5 | Optomed OY | Partner | Finland |
| 5 | "Stratelus" Joint Stock Company | Coordinator | Lithuania |
| 5 | Ultrasound Institute of Kaunas University of Technology | Partner | Lithuania |